Description
Festive Christmas cookie bars bring holiday cheer with layers of sweet nostalgia and rich chocolate. Warm spices and creamy frosting invite friends and family to savor delightful seasonal memories you’ll treasure.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Flavoring and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Decorative and Textural Ingredients:
- 1 cup M&M’s (red and green)
- 1 cup mini pretzels, roughly crushed
- 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles (optional)
- Additional M&M’s and pretzels for topping
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, ensuring side overhang for easy removal.
- Cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes using an electric mixer.
- Incorporate eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Blend in vanilla extract until evenly combined.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually integrate dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing until just combined to maintain a chewy texture.
- Gently fold M&M’s and crushed pretzels into the dough, reserving a small portion for topping.
- Distribute cookie dough evenly across prepared pan, using a spatula to smooth the surface. Sprinkle reserved M&M’s, pretzels, and optional holiday sprinkles on top.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until edges turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow bars to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then lift out using parchment paper and transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Once fully cooled, slice into squares and serve these festive Christmas cookie bars to eager guests.
Notes
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for easier creaming and smoother texture.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough, dense cookie bars.
- Customize the recipe by swapping M&M’s with different holiday-themed candies or chocolate chips.
- For gluten-free version, replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend and use certified gluten-free pretzels.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg